Summary of the criticism and of the potential ways to improve acculturation psychology

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Abstract

The conclusion to this issue is comprised by the summary of the critical points regarding modern acculturation psychology addressed by the authors of this issue followed by the suggestions for the improvement of this branch of psychology. The emergence of cultural acculturation psychology is proposed.

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Major points of criticism

  • A.

    Problems with the definition of acculturation

    • A.1.

      The process of acculturation is ill-defined and the existing definition is helpless to provide psychologists with elaborated guidelines to study acculturation based on uncovering its symbolic, social, linguistic, and psychological aspects (Chirkov; Rudmin);

    • A.2.

      The existing definition is taken from outdated anthropological literature (Chirkov; Rudmin);

    • A.3.

      This definition addresses the phenomena on a group level. When working on this level acculturation

Suggestions to improve research in acculturation psychology

  • a.

    A definition of acculturation and terminological suggestions

    • a.1.

      One possible option was suggested: “Individual acculturation (in contrast to group acculturation) is a process that is executed by an agentic individual (it is not a process that happens to an individual) after meeting and entering a cultural community that is different from the cultural community where he or she was initially socialized. Acculturation involves a deliberate, reflective, and, for the most part, comparative cognitive

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